Bravery Awards: 'We knew we had to give it a shot'

It's a real-life drama involving the sort of heroics that would make a riveting scene for any action movie star. But one of the real-life heroes, Philip Blakeman of Palmerston North, says he is "just embarrassed" by all the attention while the other hero, Shaun Sexton, says any plaudits belong to his crew.

A citation that accompanied their Government awards for bravery today revealed that on the night of June 3, 2004, the Royal New Zealand Air Force men risked their own lives to save that of a fellow Anzac.

Squadron Leader Shaun Sexton, a helicopter pilot, was praised for his leadership and cool demeanour - "pivotal to the success" of the operation. Vision during the high-risk rescue the men undertook was complicated by torrential rain and low cloud.

Despite this, Mr Blakeman prepared himself aboard the Iroquois helicopter being piloted by Mr Sexton.

In darkness, the machine hovered above the canopy of a tropical rainforest in the Solomon Islands.

With the aid of night-vision goggles, Mr Blakeman began his 75m descent by way of winch. The crew knew the risk - if visual reference was lost or the helicopter was unable to maintain a stable hover, the cable would have needed cutting, plunging Mr Blakeman to an almost-certain death.

On the ground below lay a Royal Australian Navy seaman, who had suffered serious spinal injuries after falling down a ravine on the Florida Islands. Hours earlier a doctor had been winched down by another helicopter crew, but weather conditions and darkness had prevented further attempts to help. The rescue was also a desperate race against time because this was the third and final attempt by the New Zealand crew.

Low fuel supplies were a factor but it was the onset of fatigue that would have prevented further attempts.

"Chances are he (the Australian) would not have survived the night," Mr Blakeman said.

"It was a very high risk, I appreciate that, but it was the whole crew who were involved that night. Honestly I find it quite embarrassing to get an award for a job we do from day to day.

"I suppose the conditions made it a lot worse than usual."

Although an experienced hand in being winched from helicopters, Mr Blakeman said he had never before been unwound the maximum 75m - a feat that is not attempted during training sessions.

During the ascent the citation said the injured Australian and his rescuer were exposed to hazards presented by darkness, bad weather, poor communications and the sheer distance to the helicopter.

"The hazards were further compounded when Sergeant Blakeman and the stretcher-bound casualty began to spin rapidly for much of the ascent through the trees."

Mr Sexton said the crew was well trained and equipped for the attempt.

"When push comes to shove and someone's life is at stake, we knew we had to give it a shot."

Both Mr Blakeman and Mr Sexton told the Weekend Herald they had not been in touch with the injured Australian since the lifesaving rescue, but he had heard that the spinal injuries suffered had led to the naval officer becoming a paraplegic.

"He's been at the front of my mind since getting correspondence about this award," Mr Sexton said.

"After the rescue the HMAS Tarakan crew gave us plenty of platitudes at a farewell dinner."

While both men were happy to accept the bravery award, they said the pleasure should be shared by the rest of their crew that accompanied them that night.


The awards

* The awards, announced by the Governor-General, Anand Satyanand, consist of two levels.

- New Zealand Bravery Decoration: For acts of exceptional bravery in situations of danger. - New Zealand Bravery Medal: For acts of bravery.

* All awards bear the inscription "For Bravery - Mo Te Maia".

* They are royal honours, and each person who receives one gets a certificate signed by the Queen and the Governor-General. He or she also receives a distinctive lapel badge.

* Anyone can make a nomination and those put forward are considered by a panel of experts who advise Prime Minister Helen Clark.

* Some of the acts of bravery date back several years, either because nominations come in late, or those receiving an award are involved in court action or inquests.